Hindi movie reviews from an American moviegoer's perspective

Fukrey Returns earned more it is first three days in North America than the original Fukrey earned during the course of its four-week run in 2013. From December 8-10, 2017, Fukrey Returns took in $174,626 from 66 theaters ($2,646 average; adjusted average of $3,118 from 56 theaters*). Fukrey released on June 14, 2013, earning $74,110 from 57 North American theaters ($1,300 average) in its opening weekend, ultimately closing out its run with a total of $125,279.

Firangi fell off dramatically in its second weekend, its business plummeting by 87%. It earned just $14,186 from 36 theaters ($394 average), bringing its total to $176,485.

*Bollywood Hungama frequently counts Canadian theaters twice when they report figures for a film’s first few weeks of release. When possible, I verify theater counts at Box Office Mojo, but I use Bollywood Hungama as my primary source because they provide a comprehensive and consistent — if flawed — data set.

Firangi got off to a slow start in North America, despite being the first new Hindi film to open here in two weeks. From December 1-3, 2017, the Kapil Sharma comedy earned $112,238 from 82 theaters ($1,369 average; adjusted average of $1,675 from 67 theaters*). That’s a steep decline from Sharma’s only other international Bollywood release: 2015’s Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, which opened with $203,645 from 69 North American theaters ($2,951 average). Firangi fared better in Canada — with per-theater averages of $2,445 versus $1,453 in the States — but that’s likely due to the small number of Indian films showing in Canadian theaters at the moment (five, to be exact).

Tumhari Sulu earned $33,049 from 20 theaters ($1,652 average) in its third weekend of release, bringing its North American total to $465,555. Golmaal Again closed out its seventh weekend in the US and Canada with $1,726 from four theaters ($432 average). Its total stands at $2,358,581.

*Bollywood Hungama frequently counts Canadian theaters twice when they report figures for a film’s first few weeks of release. When possible, I verify theater counts at Box Office Mojo, but I use Bollywood Hungama as my primary source because they provide a comprehensive and consistent — if flawed — data set.

I’m compelled to point out that the superb Korean TV series Boys Over Flowers — a common entry point into the addicting world of K-dramas — expires from Netflix on December 23. It’s absolutely worth the investment of time, but fair warning: the soundtrack will be stuck in your head forever.